Definition & types of regions

I-DEFINITION OF REGIONS

Definition of regions
Isiah Bowman- A unit characterised by the sum total of its physical and human elements David Harvey A thing more than the mere sum of parts. Paul Vidal A whole with respect to which parts could be explained. A.J. Herbertson- A complex of land, water, air, plant, animal and man regarded in the spatial relationship as together constituting a definite portion of the earths surface. David Harvey- a theoretical entity like an atom or neutron which cannot be precisely observed but whose existence can be felt from its effects It has four dimensions- length, width, vertical extent and the dimension of time, which was added to it by B. J. L. Berry. Its size may range from a few square feet to the whole world. 3

SOME IMPORTANT VIEWS

A. J. Herbertson
Herbertsons view on region evolved from 1905s natural regions to thermal regions in 1911 to his redefinition of natural regions in 1913 as - "a vital unit as well as physical one, a symbiosis on a vast scale. It is more than an association of plants, or of animals or of man. it is a symbiotic association of all these, indissolubly bound up with certain structures and forms of the land, possessing a definite water circulation and subjected to seasonal climatic rhythm.'
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According to Derwent Whittlesey- A region is neither self-determined nor nature given. It isan entity for the purpose of thought, created by the selection of certain features that are relevant to an areal interest or problems and by the disregard of all features that are considered irrelevant. He also talks about sequent occupance, i.e., the ways in which culture uses a region; as culture changes from rural to urban or from agrarian to industrial the landscape gradually shifts and so do the regional characteristics.
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Derwent Whittlesey- Changing Character Of Region

Whittlesey- Summary
Area may be from 1 feet to the whole world Patterns emerge when different processes work on a region Physical, biotic and cultural processes are most important Processes are interwoven; can not be separated from each other Both processes and patterns change with time

Paul Vidal
According to him studying region is ..not to break apart that nature has assembled, to understand the correspondence and correlations of things whether in the setting of the whole surface of the earth, or in the regional setting where things are localized. His pays are called cultural regions by Karl Sauer. Basically these pays are natural regions with some homogeneous physical characteristics.
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1. Dimensions & Components of Regions

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Fig. 1 Spatial dimensions

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Fig. 2.Time Dimension

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Components of region- which are interlinked. Fig 3

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Region lies within hierarchy of regions

These are systems These lie within larger systems These hold sub-systems within them Each has a definite place and role within the hierarchy All are mostly inter-linked, with some exceptions

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2- CLASSIFICATION OF REGIONS

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Bases for classification of regions

Principle for identification
Genesis of region Size and hierarchical status Other considerations
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Types of regions, Fig.4

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i.Homogeneous/formal regions
It is the older concept, evolved during the phase of agrarian economy. According to Whittlesey Committee- homogeneity of a region is determined by criteria formulated for the purpose of sorting from the whole range of earth phenomena. Homogeneity is not total but lies within a predefined range, and is related to certain selected features, while the unrelated ones are disregarded. Homogeneity can be decided on physical, economic, social character of region or a combination of these three. It is an intellectual concept, an entity for the purpose of thought. It has objective view- an end in itself, an areal entity, that can be identified and mapped.-Glasson Methods for its delineation are fixed index, weighted index, and superimposition of maps etc.
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Bases and Types of formal regions Fig 4

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Example1- Scheme of Alfred Hettner "Divisions of the Lands (1908), Based on Herbertson
Under this scheme Asia is divided into 5 major regions: Northern Asia (Siberia) Western Siberia Estern Siberia The Near East Aral-Caspin Depression Folded Mountains and from Asia Minor to Iran Syrian-Arabian Massif Central Asia Tarim Basin Mongolia Tibet Eastern Asia Okhotsk with Kamchatka and Kuriles Amurland, Manchuria and Japan China with Formosa and Liu Kiu Isles Southern Asia India Further India East Indies 20

Example2 .A.-Formal (natural) regions or use next example. Fig 5

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Example2.B.-Formal (Physical) Regions, India- S. P. Chatterjee. Fig. 6

The Great Mountain Wall Western Himalayas Eastern Himalayas The Great Plain Sutlaj, Beas,Ravi Ganga,Upper Ganga Yamuna,BrahmaPutra North Western Upper Ganga Middle Ganga Delta Assam Valley The Great Plateau of Peninsular India North Western Peninsular Peninsular India North Eastern Peninsular Plateau Maharastra Karnataka Plateau Tamilnadu Plateau Andhra Plateau Coastal Plains West Coast East Coast The Island Kutch Peninsular, Kathiawar Peninsular, Gujarat Plains, Konkan Coast, Karnatic Malabar Coast Tamilnadu Coast, Andhra Coast, Orissa Coast Aravalli Hills, Chambal Basin Bundelkhand upland, Malwa Vindhyan Scrap land Baaghelkhand, Chattisgarsh Basin Bastar Plateau, Orissa Hills, Chotnagpur Hills Western Ghats, Lava Plateau, Western Ganga Valley Malnad region, Maiden region Kashmir Himalayas Punjab Kumaan Himalayas Darjeeling Sikkim, Assam Himalayas Eastern Bodar Hills & Plateau North Punjab, South Punjab, Rajasthan Ganga Yamuna, Rohilkhand, Avadh

Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivv, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

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Example3-Homogeneous (mixed)regions2001 HDI Regions in India fig. 7.

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Example 4- Formal (social)Regions,Tribal areas in 9 states covered under The Fifth Schedule
http://www.mmpindia.org/triballand.jpg

Fig.8.

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2.Functional/nodal/polarized Region
It is a product of modern economy, industrial development and urbanization It is based on the principle of interdependence and interlinking Peter Haggett has identified six elements of a functional region.(Fig 9) These regions show flows related to people, commodity, capital etc. that bind the various sub parts of a region in a coherent whole. Cities serve as nodes within such regions and control all activities within their sphere of influence. (Fig. 9)contd
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ii. Functional Region

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Elements of Functional RegionHaggett. Fig. 9

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Contd.
For delineation of functional regions Quantitative methods are used, such as: Zipfs- principle of distance decay Stewart s Gravity Model Chistallers and Losches- Central Place theory. Thiessen Polygon method

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Examples of Functional regionsVaranasi & Metropolitan regions of India ( R. Ramachandran) Fig. 10

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iii. Planning Region

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Planning Region
Concept of these regions is a product of problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, uneven regional development, and ecological problems They are subjective in nature Their sub-types are based on the purpose of planning. John Friedman says: At each stage of development different regional delimitation will be the most convenient and efficient for purpose of planning. Contd..

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Planning Region- Types according to phases of economic development (Friedman) 1.Beginning of economic development, rural agricultural base Multistate region 2.Stage of industrialization & urbanization Metropolitan region and problem specific regions. 3. New technologies, pressure on old spaces, new national objectives - Frontier region (virgin territories). 4. Declining or stagnated economy Depressed regions
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Planning Region Indian perspective (K. V. Sundaram)

Planning regions in India were influenced by Two aspects of planning 1.Changes in the strategy and goals of planning. First phase had industrial (economic)planning regions, focused on sectoral industrial growth, these were mineral and capital industry based regions. Second phase focused on equitable development planning regions were special problem areas (DPAP, Hill Areas, Tribal Areas, Wastelands etc.) 2. Changes in the structure of planning; from centralized to multilevel planning First phase had State level planning regions, or inter-state planning regions second phase has macro, meso and micro planning regions.
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Features of Planning region

B. C. smith- Must satisfy 32 critetia C. R. Pathak & Amitabh Kundu, Malgawkar & Ghiara emphasize : 1. Size 2. Resource 3. Internal Homogenety 4. Internal cohesiveness 5. Essentially operational and flexible
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Planning region - Sub-types

According to goal of planning, planning region may be: 1 Economic planning region-Example P. Sen Gupta & Sdasyuks Dynamic, Prospective and Problem Regions 2 Social Panning Region-Example KBK Region (Kalahandi, Bolangir, Koraput), or Bastar tribal region. 3.Environmental Planning region- Example desert regions, Sukhomajri Region, Wastelands, Hill Area Dev Plans. Contd
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Planning Region (Contd .)

Another classification is:
Metropolitan planning regiom Axial planning region Depressed planning region Frontier planning region

All planning regions basically have the following features: 1. No specific type is considered the most ideal for all purposes 2. These are flexible and change with time,
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Other types of regions Modal* Regions, Elbert Z. Guttenberg

Elbert Z. Guttenberg says The most profound approach to a classification of regions is by way of the human purpose and areal interests that have produced them
Mode Referential Relevant spatial phenomena Past, present and future natural and cultural features Basis of regional definition Disinterested observations Example 1. Physiographic regions Great Plains; 2. Ecological regions Corn Belt; 3. Projected regions urban regions 1. National forests 2. Managed coastal zone 3. Grazing district 1. Pearcys ideal 38 states* 2. The world as global village

Appraisive

Operative

Territorial quality of life Remedial or preventive indicators (economic, rules of action social, environmental). Egs. Poverty, pollution, natural hazards Types of ideal territorial Aspirations order envisioned (aesthetic, moral, political)

*Mode- A manner, way, or method of doing or acting: a particular form, or variety

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Pearcys ideal administrative regions

Pearcy prepared a map of 38 states for the USA. It is based on the idea that when the present 50 states were formed much of the areas were uninhabited. The state boundaries, according to him should be re-drawn. He gave high priority to population density, location of cities, lines of transportation, land relief, and size and shape of individual States. Whenever possible, lines are located in less populated areas. Pearcy tried to place a major metropolitan area in the center of each State (for other details see http://www.tjc.com/38states).

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CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF GENESIS Naive Region They dont have well defined boundary and their existence depends upon social acceptance . Instituted region These are bounded by administrative boundaries like district or state. Denoted region These are identified by regionalization technique, they are also called planning regions.

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Thanks

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